Nine arrests as violence spreads to Fulham

Frightening tales of violence and disorder have begun to emerge from Hammersmith and Fulham the day after riots spread to west London.

The borough escaped relatively unscathed compared to other parts of the capital. But police made nine arrests and had to fight sporadic outbreaks of criminality. Confirmed incidents include:

* Officers being pelted with missiles in a battle with 15 youths in Lillie Road, Fulham

* A taxi driver and his female passenger being robbed in nearby Chaldon Road.

* The windows of a nursery being smashed on the Bayonne Road Estate, Fulham

* Shops being attacked in North End Road while riot police lined up

* Looters trying but failing to ransack PC World in Wandsworth Bridge Road

Witness Rebecca Smith, a 21-year-old Imperial College student, saw the disorder unfold on North End Road.

"There were a few people spilling into North End Road from the Clem Attlee Estate. At first they were just shouting a bit and mouthing off.

"Then the riot police arrived and it kicked off. Cars were forced to turn in the middle of the road as about 30 youths, some with wooden sticks, charged into the road.

"The police response was immediate and they rushed at them straight away, batons in hand, as some of the youths threw their sticks at the officers."

The area was cleared by about 1am, while damage was limited to a smashed window at Foot Locker.

Outbreaks of disorder also occurred in Lillie Road, with skirmishes between youths in Normand Park, while the brand new Bayonne Nursery, in the Bayonne Estate, had its windows smashed.

One staff member said: "It's just mindless violence and very upsetting as the building is in the middle of a refurbishment. It's pretty low for them to target a nursery."

In the Clem Attlee Estate, minor fires burned as yobs set fire to bins. One resident called their actions pathetic,

"They're just kids who want a fight with police but it's worrying when you hear about major fires in other boroughs. I hope nothing major happens but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. Things have been getting worse and worse around here."

Further south of the borough, officers stood guard outside PC World in the Wandsworth Bridge Road business park, as looters threatened. Contrary to reports, nothing was stolen, although witnesses said a bicycle was thrown under a bus.

There were outbreaks of fighting in nearby Eel Brook Common.

In the north of H&F police said there was an incident of looting in Arial Way near Westfield, while there were two episodes of criminal damage in Hammersmith, including to a hairdressers in Bradmore Park.

Earlier in the week, on Sunday, police dealt with skirmished on the Edward Wood Estate in Shepherd's Bush, while a shop was broken into in King's Road.

MP Greg Hands condemned the violence and called for stricter policing. He said: "For 14 years I have been saying London needs much tougher, New York-style policing. Now would be a good time to start."